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THE seven parliamentary delegations sent by the government as part of its so-called ‘diplomatic outreach’ following the ‘pause’ in ‘Operation Sindoor’ have all returned. Despite having serious reservations and questions, the CPI(M) obliged to the government’s request and participated in one of these delegations. It is imperative for the government to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam and the subsequent military operation.
The entire country stood united in the fight against terrorism. The government must respect this unity and fulfill its constitutional duty by answering the many questions troubling the people. Instead, the prime minister and his party are traversing the country and using ‘Operation Sindoor’ to spread communal hatred and stoke jingoism. This campaign led by the prime minister and the RSS/BJP, is aimed at undermining the very unity that is essential for confronting and defeating terrorism. Let us examine some of the lingering concerns among the people.
The terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack remain at large. More than 40 days have passed since the incident, yet there are no clear answers regarding how they entered the country, executed the attack, or where they are now. The selective targeting of victims points to a grave lapse on the part of our security agencies, all of which function under the central government. The government must accept responsibility for this failure, initiate a thorough and impartial investigation, fix responsibility and provide clear answers to the public. This is the bare minimum that the BJP government owes the people.
Instead, the RSS and BJP launched a vitriolic hate campaign targeting Muslim minorities. Their social media platforms went into overdrive, sparing no one. They deliberately ignored the courageous response of the Kashmiri people. They turned a blind eye to the fact that a Kashmiri pony handler lost his life while trying to protect the tourists who had hired his services. There were numerous acts of selfless assistance by Kashmiris, they helped the injured reach hospitals and guided tourists to safety. Many of the tourists in Pahalgam acknowledged this. Arati R Menon, a young woman from Kerala who lost her father, N Ramachandran, in the attack, stated that although she lost her father, she gained two brothers from Kashmir – Musafar and Samir – who helped her during that difficult time.
The way the people of Kashmir unitedly condemned the terrorist attack was truly exemplary. Shops were voluntarily shut down, candlelight vigils were held, and peaceful demonstrations took place. The need of the hour is to strengthen such unity. Instead, communal forces were exposed for their malicious attempts to divide people. Kashmiri students were attacked in various cities. Himanshi Narwal, a newly married woman who lost her husband, a naval officer, was subjected to a vile and indecent hate campaign. Her only ‘crime’ was to appeal that the attack not be used as a pretext to target Kashmiris and Muslims or incite religious hatred. The government of India remained completely silent on this hate campaign, which only emboldened the communal army of online trolls.
Many BJP leaders and ministers in BJP-led state governments have made unacceptable and unpardonable remarks, even against the army spokesperson and the foreign secretary. It took court intervention to compel the government to file an FIR against such individuals. While the government hesitates to act against those spreading communal venom, it has been swift in targeting independent media and individuals calling for facts and unity. The speed with which an FIR was filed against an Associate Professor at Ashoka University, and the abrupt shutdown of The Wire's website, highlight the government’s deeply biased and authoritarian character.
Indeed, little can be expected from a government whose leader – the prime minister – himself is at the forefront of a jingoistic campaign. In what has now become his signature style, the prime minister refuses to be accountable either to Parliament or to the people through a free and questioning press. He only grants interviews to select media outlets known for asking pre-approved, soft questions. He consistently avoids press conferences, yet is ever eager to deliver monologues and lectures. In his national address following the ‘Operation’, the prime minister introduced a new doctrine on terrorism (discussed in detail in a separate article in this issue).
The CPI(M) has always maintained a clear and consistent position on terrorism and how it must be tackled. It is not acceptable to claim that war is the only option. A comprehensive approach, diplomatic, economic, political, and strategic, must be pursued. Terrorists and their backers must be isolated through such multi-pronged efforts. However, instead of adopting this broader approach, the government is focusing solely on war and escalation, which is bound to be counterproductive.
Any dispute between India and Pakistan can and must be resolved through dialogue. We must not allow any external party to interfere in or mediate our bilateral relations. The CPI(M) firmly opposes the internationalisation of the Kashmir issue. However, the actions of the current BJP-led government have enabled US intervention and contributed to the internationalisation of the matter. The government has failed to firmly refute repeated claims made by US President Donald Trump regarding his role in brokering the ceasefire. These claims were even included in a sworn affidavit submitted by the US administration to a US court. Such intervention contradicts the long-standing national consensus that all issues between India and Pakistan will be resolved bilaterally, without any external involvement. In fact, we have consistently opposed Pakistan’s attempts to internationalise the Kashmir issue and seek third-party mediation. Yet, the conduct of the present government has played into Pakistan’s hands, thereby undermining India's sovereignty and national dignity.
The BJP government’s refusal to convene a special session of Parliament raises several serious questions. Parliament is the forum where the government is expected to clarify issues and respond to questions posed by the representatives of the people. Its refusal to heed these demands reflects an authoritarian character. The deliberate absence of the prime minister from the two all-party meetings convened by the government further calls into question whether the government is genuinely committed to taking the entire nation along in the fight against terrorism. One of the most glaringly discriminatory acts was the central government’s decision to brief only BJP-NDA ruled chief ministers about the Operation. Does the government consider opposition-ruled states to be outside the fold of the Indian Union, unworthy of the same information and cooperation? This clearly exposes the BJP’s partisan approach and its lack of interest in fostering national unity in the fight against terrorism.
Our strength in combating terrorism lies in the unity of the country, a unity that was clearly visible after the Pahalgam attack, when people of all religions, castes, and regions came together to condemn the violence. The ongoing hate campaigns, particularly those targeting minorities, should not be tolerated. They threaten the unity and integrity of our nation and run counter to the values of our freedom struggle. The BJP government, both openly and covertly, supports these campaigns. Unless hate is held accountable and punished, there can be no hope of ending these divisive and dangerous efforts.
Hate and othering always create conditions in which sectarian forces thrive. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that such conditions do not take root in our country. Peace is only possible when hate is eradicated. We must stand united in the fight against all forms of hate, regardless of where it originates. In today’s context, this must be our foremost responsibility.
It is imperative that we take the initiative to counter the falsehoods propagated by the BJP. Secular and democratic values, integral to the syncretic heritage of our country must be firmly upheld. The government must take immediate steps to restore the confidence of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, beginning with the restoration of statehood and its special status. It should also allow the elected government to carry out its constitutionally mandated functions.
We must continue to demand accountability from the central government. This should start with the demand for a special session of Parliament to comprehensively discuss the developments since the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and its aftermath.
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